HP Blog: Racing ahead in vehicle wrapping with HP Latex technology

Authored by Terry Raghunath, Business Development Manager at HP. Reading, UK, September 10, 2024: Vehicle wrapping has emerged as one of the stand-out growth areas of recent times, with those in the market taking full advantage of increasing demand for this sort of work. Demand has increased partly due to a spike in interest from private customers, with more clients approaching print service providers with ideas of how to wrap and decorate their own vehicles. With this has come all manner of innovations among printing companies and wrappers as they seek to stretch the boundaries - and indeed the vinyl and films they work with - to decorate everything from cars, vans and lorries to motorcycles, boats and even rockets. While the possibilities are seemingly endless, the onus is on print companies, wrappers and anyone else in this sector to ensure they are in a strong position to support customers with their ideas and help turn their visions into a reality. HP recently hosted a dedicated webinar on this exact subject, exploring the ways printers and wrappers can grow their business. The session looks at growth within the wrapping sector in recent years, including some of the most important trends those in the market need to be aware of and takes a closer look at some of the technology from HP that can help them along their way. Set the table for success There is insight into how to build and grow a successful wrapping business from Justin Pate, the Chief Executive Officer of US-based The Wrap Institute. Having started out working as a freelance wrapper in New York in the mid 1990s, specialising in wrapping tour buses for hip-hop stars, Justin has evolved his business over the years to the point where it now employs a team of staff working on all manner of projects for high-end clients such as global music megastar Rihanna. Speaking about building his business, Justin referenced a somewhat unusual analogy, comparing a wrapping facility to a restaurant or cafe. He said making customers feel the same way about the wrapping shop as they do their favourite restaurant will encourage them to return time and time again. He goes on to set out more similarities between the culinary and wrapping worlds, suggesting that elements of a wrap shop can be tied in with how a restaurant operates. For example, he sets out how the wrapping services you offer are similar to a restaurant menu; some are basic but can be produced more easily and at a lower cost, allowing you to make a painless profit. One particular analogy he uses is a Caesar Salad. One of the most common dishes on menus across the US, this starts out as a relatively basic dish and is simple to produce but can also be customised and expanded with other ingredients – similar to additional options on wrap jobs such as chrome films and handle and wing mirror wraps. Right tools and quality Of course, to produce such delights, you need to have the right kitchen and ingredients – or printer and consumables if you prefer – to hand. Focusing on this, the webinar delves into some of the options available from HP, primarily within its HP Latex division. First up is the HP Latex 800W, which allows users to print vehicle wraps at speeds of around 18sq m/hr in quality mode. The machine can print on media as wide as 1.63m. With its ability to produce instantly dry output, users benefit from being able to print and cut in parallel, while its white ink option allows customers to explore a wider range of wrapping options. Also highlighted in the webinar are the HP Latex 2700 and HP Latex 2700W printers, both of which can print on two rolls running next two each other. The machines have the ability to print on a host of materials including vinyl, with both devices having a top speed of 69sq m/hr for four-pass printing in indoor signage mode, 49sq m/hr at six-pass in quality signage mode, and 38sq m/hr at eight-pass in high-quality SAV printing mode. To view the ‘Become a Master of Wrapping with HP Latex’ webinar in full, please click here to access the session for free. HP is also the Headline Print Partner for the UK edition of the World Wrap Masters competition at the upcoming FESPA WrapFest2024 showcase which takes place between 2-3 October 2024 at Silverstone. For more information, please click here. Those wishing to attend the event can purchase a discounted ticket by entering the HP discount code EXHVD45 when registering on the event page. -ends-